Predict & Observe With a Shadow Observation Experiment

Kick off the school year by building your students’ confidence with science inquiry skills! This printable first- and second-grade shadow observation experiment pack helps young learners practice making predictions, recording observations, measuring with informal units, collecting data, and identifying patterns.

Through a simple, engaging experiment, students will measure how an object’s shadow changes over the course of a day, and use their findings to describe what they learned.

Shadows Science Experiment for 1st Grade & 2nd Grade

This shadows science experiment includes everything teachers need to guide students through a meaningful science inquiry lesson. To complete the investigation:

• Determine whether your students will work independently or collaboratively, and use the pages marked accordingly for each option.
• Read the introduction and display the set of objects students may use.
• Model how to make a prediction, then have students record their prediction on the Observing Shadows Experiment sheet.
• Take students outdoors three times to measure shadow lengths using snap cubes.
• Students draw and record each measurement on their data table.
• Close the activity by completing the Learning Summary sheet—students compare their data, describe patterns, and explain their observations.

By the end of the investigation, your students will have practiced predicting, observing, measuring using informal units, and communicating findings, all key science inquiry skills for the early years.

Download Your Shadow Observation Activity

This printable Shadow Observation Activity Pack includes:

• Collaborative and independent investigation pages
• Teacher Instructions and Materials List
• A final Learning Summary page for analyzing and explaining results

This resource is available in both PDF and editable Google Slides format.  To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and choose your preferred file type.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator.

More Science Experiments for Grade 1 & 2

Keep your young scientists exploring with more hands-on Science experiments for Grades 1 and 2. Make sure you check these out before you go!

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